Building a Chicken Run and Adding the Coop

A flat area is hard to find in our backyard, so the first thing I did when planning the chicken run was to level out the footprint for the run using cinderblocks. Since we weren't planning on housing a large flock, and because lumber comes in eight foot lengths, I planned on a simple 8 x 4ft base for the chicken run. 

First, I dug down and placed four blocks at the corners of the 8 x 4ft footprint. I placed a piece of wood on top of two blocks across, and checked with a level to make sure the base would sit evenly. Because of the discrepancy in depth on the left and right side of the base, I also laid out a full row of cinderblocks for the left side to rest upon. 

*Cinderblocks are also a great deterrent for digging predators.*

Once I had the footprint in place, I got to work modifying the doghouse to function as a chicken coop. You can read more about that process here.

I added a frame of 2x4s to the bottom of the chicken coop, to function as the primary attachment point for the four 4x4 posts that would elevate it off the ground. Ever looking to recycle existing materials, I got lucky one day when my neighbors had a pile of 4 foot lengths of 4x4 lumber in their trash. 

I dug four holes for the posts, approximately 12" deep (a bit less on the one side because of the uneven ground), ensuring the tops of the posts were level. I positioned the posts so they would sit just inside the frame I had attached to the bottom of the coop, and screwed through the frame into the posts using 3" cabinet screws. The end result had the coop sitting about three feet off the ground, which was beneficial for several reasons. Sitting the coop on the ground leaves it vulnerable to burrowing rodents, and can create a moisture issue beneath it. With a three foot elevation, the coop is protected from pests and predators, it creates additional roaming space for the chickens beneath the coop, and is at a comfortable height for cleaning. 

Once the coop was lifted and attached to the posts, I started building the frame for the run around it. 

To keep the run free from pests, and to keep the chickens safe from predators, it is crucial to cover the bottom of the run (below ground level) with hardware cloth. A skirt can work as well (especially for larger areas where covering the entirety of the run is impractical), but for smaller runs like ours, this is the most secure route. Hardware cloth comes in a range of gauges, the most common being 1/4" and 1/2". The 1/2" gauge is the best option for securing the run, since the 1/4" gauge is quite thin, and can be brittle.

*I did use the 1/4" gauge on the bottom of the frame before I realized this, but it seems to be ok.*

After securing the hardware cloth to the bottom of the run frame, I added concrete around the bases for the four posts for extra stability. 

At the front of the run, I used two eight foot 4x4 posts for the other two corners, securing them at the base with a 2x4, and filling the space with cement. The cement provides a solid base for the door to the run, as well as increased stability for the corner posts. 

When the concrete was dry, I added rails along both sides of the run with pressure treated 1x4s, and wrapped all sides and the top with 1/2" gauge hardware cloth. 

The door was constructed with 2x4s and corner brackets and secured to the run with heavy duty gate hinges, and I finished the run with a sheet of corrugated steel extending over the top of the coop for the roof. The steel roof was attached to two 1x4 rails extending from the top of the door frame to the top of the coop, using self-drilling screws. 

Around the bottom of the run on the outside, I added 2' high lengths of vinyl lattice using screws and washers to further secure the hardware cloth. Remember when attaching vinyl for exterior use, you must first drill a hole in the vinyl and attach with a washer to prevent cracking from exposure to the elements. 

For the base of the run, I covered the hardware cloth with a layer each of gravel, sand, wood ash from our fire pit, and a final layer of hardwood chips. Periodically, I add leaves and additional wood chips as the layers compost. 

*As with all of my projects, I am not a professional and you should not follow my posts for professional advice. Remember to always use all recommended safety equipment and make sure you understand the instructions for your tools before you operate them.*